About Us

Mis­sion

Ken­neth Young Center’s com­pas­sion­ate pro­fes­sion­als help peo­ple of all ages over­come life’s chal­lenges and achieve their goals through per­son­al­ized behav­ioral health and old­er adult services.

Lead­er­ship Team

Grace Hong Duffin

President and Chief Executive Officer

Grace started her time at KYC in March 2016 as Chief Operating Officer and was named Chief Executive Officer in August 2018. Prior to KYC, Grace spent a significant portion of her career working for the State of Illinois. She served as a Senior Policy Adviser and Chief of Staff for the Illinois Department of Human Services, where she helped manage almost $6 billion budget and was responsible for approximately 13,000 employees. She ensured Illinois residents received direct services including access to public benefits, community health programs, services for people with disabilities, and behavioral health programs. As the consummate public servant, Grace also spent 8 years working as a Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney assisting victims of crimes. She was drawn to KYC’s diverse mission, compassionate commitment to clients, and immense growth potential. Grace is continuously amazed by the wonderful work and dedication of the staff.

Grace has her Bachelor’s Degree in Human Development and Social Policy from Northwestern University, Juris Doctor from Chicago-Kent College of Law, and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Harvard University. When not at KYC, Grace and her husband love to spend time with their three children.

Pam Baldinelli

Director of Child and Adolescent Division

Pam started her career KYC in 1997 as a Clinical Intern while studying for her Master’s Degree in Community Counseling at Roosevelt University. After completing her internship, she spent nine years as a social worker for Catholic Charities, counseling pregnant and parenting teens. She then worked at Ravenswood Community Mental Health Center as an Intensive Case Manager on the child and adolescent team. In 2000, Pam returned to KYC as a therapist on the Adult Outpatient Team. Pam has specialized in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), providing in depth treatment to adults with suicidal and self-destructive behaviors, in addition to her work in private practice. Pam transitioned to be the Adolescent and Transitioning Youth Coordinator, overseeing and providing therapy to teens and young adults. In 2014, Pam became the Director of Child and Adolescent Services, leading the Division through a strategic restructuring to provide quality services at both the Schaumburg and Elk Grove Village locations, as well as Screening Assessment and Support Services (SASS) from the Mount Prospect Office. She also oversees the Positive Youth Development Team, engaging young people from local middle and high schools to make healthy lifestyle choices that prevent pregnancy, drug use, and alcohol consumption.

Pam is a gifted listener and storyteller, with a passion for serving others.

Mike Brown

Director of Environment of Care and Facilities

Mike joined the KYC Leadership Team in 2017 as the Environment of Care/Facilities Manager, overseeing the buildings' and grounds' maintenance at our four office locations. Mike has a long history of service, most recently as the Facilities Director for a local school district, overseeing the operations of buildings for kids aged 5-14 and ensuring the architecture, engineering, and life-safety needs of the district were fulfilled. He’s also worked as a Building Commissioner for a municipality and Construction Manager for a nonprofit building homes for low-income families. With each job, Mike has found joy in providing quality customer service and safe environments for people of all ages to live, learn, and grow. When coming to KYC, Mike wanted to join a team of professionals with a shared commitment to service. “Every life helped improves clients’ happiness, their family’s togetherness, and the world’s goodness,” says Mike.

Mike has his Bachelor’s Degree in Business from Indiana University and is a Certified in Construction Building Operations and a Certified Property Maintenance Manager. When not at KYC, Mike is an involved member of his church, spends time with his family, and is active in the outdoors.

Crissy Castillo

Director of Older Adult Division

Crissy came to KYC in 2006 as a Choices for Care Screener on the Older Adults Team, completing nursing home prescreen evaluations at Alexian Brothers Medical Center. In 2009, she was promoted to become the Choices for Care Program Team Lead, overseeing and growing the program for five years. Leaving KYC for just a few months in 2016, Crissy returned to be the Director of Older Adult Services, advocating for clients while leading the Older Adults Division. “KYC puts clients first and goes above and beyond the call of duty to make sure we serve our clients” said Crissy.

Crissy got her Bachelor’s degree at Northeastern Illinois University and a Master’s degree at the University of Illinois at Chicago, both in Social Work. When not at KYC, Crissy can be found with her husband Arnie and two young children, Sophia and Santino.

Kate Garbarek

Director of Development and Communications

Kate joined the KYC Team in 2016 after managing the Friendship Senior Options Foundation in Schaumburg. With over a decade of experience in fundraising and communications, as well as a degree in Strategic Communication from Miami University, Kate continued her education at the Lilly School of Philanthropy at Indiana University and received her Certificate in Fund Raising Management. "I'm deeply motivated by KYC's mission and commitment to serve the most vulnerable people in our communities," shared Kate. "I look forward to expanding KYC's outreach to ensure every person in need receives quality, compassionate behavioral health and older adult services."

Dr. Jerry Gibbons

Medical Director

Since 2000, Dr. Gibbons has served KYC as a psychiatrist and then Medical Director. As a Licensed Physician and Surgeon, Dr. Gibbons works closely with KYC staff and patients to ensure quality medical care and medication monitoring. After receiving his Bachelor of Arts from Kalamazoo College, Dr. Gibbons completed his pre-medical studies at Loyola University and became a Doctor of Medicine from the University of Illinois. Dr. Gibbons completed an internship at St. Joseph Hospital in Family Medicine and pursued his psychiatry residency at Northwestern University Medical School. He is a member of American Psychiatric Association, Illinois Psychiatric Society, and the American Medical Association. “I have dedicated much of my career to KYC because of our commitment to serve clients in need, regardless of their ability to pay. The client always comes first.”

Dr. Gibbons enjoys golf, exercise, travel and working on home improvement projects with his wife Laura.

Gongmin Mou

Technology Director

Gongmin has worked at Kenneth Young Center since 1997, developing CIS, a nationally certified electronic health record system. As CIS’s founder and KYC’s Technology Director, Gongmin oversees the daily operation of data collection and processing for all behavioral health services, as well as the technology needs for the agency.

Gongmin was a Ph.D. Candidate at Northern Illinois University with a concentration in Information Management in Government and has a Masters of Law and Diplomacy from Tufts University. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Shandong University in Jinan, China.

Sherrine Peyton, Director of Community Collaboration and Public Resource Development

Sherrine Peyton

Director of Community Collaboration and Public Resource Development

Sherrine Peyton started her career at Kenneth Young Center in 2003 and left to work as a contractor for the Illinois Department of Human Services as a grant Program Coordinator. She has also worked for Metropolitan Family Services as the Director of Public Resource Development and as a federal contractor working with states and tribes on public health issues. Sherrine has presented locally and nationally on positive youth development, community organizing, and LGBTQ+ inclusive practices and programs.

In 2013, Sherrine returned to KYC as a consultant to build the Communities for Positive Youth Development coalition under our prevention program. In 2014, she became the Project Lead for KYC’s Partnerships for Success grant and was promoted to Supervisor and eventually Manager of the Positive Youth Development Program. Sherrine has a Bachelor of Science degree from Eastern Michigan University. When Sherrine is not at KYC, she and her wife enjoy spending time with their adult children and attending multicultural events.

Cathy-Ann Romero

Senior Director of Talent and Facilities

Cathy-Ann came to KYC in 2012 as the HR Manager, overseeing the daily human resources needs of the organization. She was promoted to HR Director to include oversight of KYC’s Volunteer Services in addition to paid employees. Now as Senior Director of Talent and Facilities, Cathy-Ann is also overseeing KYC's various facility locations in addition to employees and volunteers.

Prior to coming to KYC, Cathy-Ann worked as an HR Consultant and for multiple village governments in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. As an experienced professional in HR and management, Cathy-Ann brings strategic leadership for operations, project management, and talent relations. “I am excited that I can add value to KYC while continuing to learn and grow professionally,” said Cathy-Ann.

Cathy-Ann has her Master’s in Human Resource Management from DeVry University and a Master’s of Arts in Public Administration from Northern Illinois University. When not at KYC, Cathy-Ann can be found spending time with her husband, visiting her two adult sons, exercising, or walking the family dog.

Linda Springer

Director of Adult Division and Housing Division

Linda came to KYC in 1987, working at as a Crisis Services Therapist, providing individual, family, couple, and group counseling to both adults and children. She was promoted in 1990 to serve as a Senior Clinician and supervisor, before becoming the Coordinator of Adult Services in 1998. Overseeing the entire Adult Services Team, Linda provided extensive leadership support to the outpatient team. In 2012, as Adult Services expanded to include community living and the Drop-In Center, Linda’s role expanded to its current oversight, ensuring quality programming for all adult clients at KYC.

Linda has her Masters of Science in Psychology from Western Illinois University and is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor. When not at KYC, she’s a talented baker, happily married, and proud parent to three adult children and a Labrador named Jack.

Rachel Zavala

Accounting Manager

Rachel has over two decades of experience working in accounting and finance for nonprofits. She came to KYC in 2013 as the Senior Accountant, ensuring successful daily operations, budgeting, year-end audits, and grant reporting. Prior to KYC, Rachel spent fifteen years at Quantrro FPO Solutions, working with over 60 agencies including AgeOptions and the YWCA of Metropolitan Chicago to manage grant budgeting and reporting.

Rachel has her Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration with a Concentration in Business Systems Management and Accounting from Robert Morris College. When not at KYC, Rachel spends time with her adult children and young grandchildren.

Annu­al Reports

Our annu­al report out­lines the high­lights of our fis­cal year: July 1 to June 30.

Who Is Ken­neth Young?

Kenneth Young was a dedicated Board Member and community leader for our organization and the agency took his name in honor of his service.

Ken­neth Wayne Young played many roles in his life: hus­band, father, pas­tor, mil­i­tary man, schol­ar, advi­sor, friend. He was many things to many peo­ple. He loved to preach and give speech­es, and when he spoke, every­one lis­tened. He had a way of mak­ing each lis­ten­er feel as if he was speak­ing just to them. He had a spir­it that cap­ti­vat­ed oth­ers and inspired great­ness. He knew when to lead and when to let oth­ers shine as lead­ers. Over thir­ty years after his death, those who knew him talk about him with warmth, rev­er­ence, and always a smile.

But one of Ken’s great­est titles had to be ​“com­mu­ni­ty activist”. Dur­ing deseg­re­ga­tion, he fought to inte­grate his com­mu­ni­ty in Cicero, Illi­nois. He worked tire­less­ly for the Fam­i­ly Ser­vice Cen­ter there to give equal rights to peo­ple of all col­ors, believ­ing to his core that every human being had the right to be cared for and respected.

When his fam­i­ly moved to Hoff­man Estates, he worked as Pas­tor of Our Saviour’s Unit­ed Methodist Church and quick­ly got involved with the Elk Grove-Schaum­burg Town­ship Men­tal Health Cen­ter, which would lat­er be renamed in his mem­o­ry as Ken­neth Young Cen­ter. An ide­al­ist and rev­o­lu­tion­ary at heart, he vol­un­teered for the cen­ter as a mem­ber of the board, becom­ing a trust­ed advi­sor to the CEO and lead­er­ship team. At that time, the cen­ter focused exclu­sive­ly on men­tal health ser­vices, advo­cat­ing for the most vul­ner­a­ble in the com­mu­ni­ty to have access to qual­i­ty and com­pas­sion­ate men­tal health care. Despite years of his own health prob­lems, Ken’s tena­cious spir­it nev­er fal­tered. He tried to nev­er miss a Sun­day at the pul­pit and helped at the cen­ter when­ev­er pos­si­ble. At 60 years old, Ken passed away from can­cer in Octo­ber, 1986. Just months lat­er, the cen­ter where he spent so much of his time got a new name: Ken­neth Young Center.